TEMPO.CO, Gaza - An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza has killed three high-ranking members of Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades. Hamas said the announcement of their deaths came a day after an Israeli airstrike killed the wife and children of Mohammad Deif, the head of the military wing.
The three members were Mohammed Abu Shamala, Raed al-Attar and Mohammed Barhoum.
Israel’s military confirmed to have killed the three men. They described al-Attar and Abu Shamala as 'high-ranking Hamas commanders responsible for major terror attacks against Israelis'.
Al-Attar played a 'major role' in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006. Shalit was detained until the deal to release him in 2011 in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
"This morning's strike sends a clear message to those responsible for planning attacks," IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said in a statement. "We will strike those that have terrorized our communities, towns and cities. We will pursue the perpetrators of abduction of our soldiers and teenagers, and we will succeed in restoring security to the State of Israel."
Egypt is currently mediating for a solution to conflict in Gaza that has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians and 67 Israelis.
Israel's military said that more than 225 rockets had been fired from Gaza to Israel since the breaking down of ceasefire on Tuesday. During the same period, Israel’s troops have attacked more than 150 targets in Gaza.
CNN | ROSALINA
